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West Palm under county ethics; what does it mean for the city?

Check out Jennifer Sorentrue’s story on ethics reform passing countywide. While it effects various municipalities across the country, perhaps no city will feel the changes more than West Palm.

West Palm has had its own ethics nightmares in recent years, from the arrests of former city commissioners Ray Liberti and Jim Exline, to the grand jury report that chided State Rep. Mary Brandenburg for “pay to play.”

Even before the county created an ethics commission, West Palm tried to create its own program, although it was criticized recently for being soft.

The city hired a consultant, Norm Ostrau, to serve as ethics officer for $50,000 a year. His services will no longer be required, with that money seemingly going toward the county program.

Since the inception of West Palm’s ethics review, only a single internal incident has resulted in disciplinary action. Ostrau said his main job was to train employees about ethical issues.

West Palm’s internal auditor Imogene Isaacs had been pushing the city to establish its own hot line so people could call in ethics complaints. But Mayor Frankel was against the idea, saying “It keeps us independent. People shouldn’t have to call us to complain about us.”

Now, West Palm residents and employees can contact the county ethics commission for ethics complaints.

There are still questions about whether the county commission will really have bite and change the political atmosphere. The arrest of former county commissioner Jeff Koons showed that the State Attorney’s office is also intent on making noise.

Will the combination of a hungry State Attorney and a more powerful ethics commission make a difference in West Palm?